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Sunday, 3 June 2018

A Little Women Review...

How delighted I was to discover BBC had brought out a wonderful new adaption of Little Women in a three part miniseries...

This week my mom and few of my sisters sat down to watch this adaption of Little Women for the first time.

Today I would like to share my thoughts on this brand new adaption...

~

First of all...let's meet the March Family...

Emily Watson played strong and gentle Marmee. Personally, I love her in this role. If, like me, you enjoy period drama, you may recognize her from Belle, Miss Potter and War Horse to name but a few...

"My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and
may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to
feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that
of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you
will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and
wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from
you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and
strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little
cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as
you come to your mother."

~ Marmee to Jo, Little Women

Meg has always been my favourite character in Little Women.

I think I preferred her in the 1994 film adaption, but Willa Fitzgerald does a good job of playing Meg...

Maya Hawke was a wonderful choice for Jo! I really enjoyed her performance...

"I like good strong words that mean something..."

~ Jo, Little Women

Annes Elwy played the part of Beth to perfection. She was sweet, gentle Beth in every way...

Kathryn Newton played Amy. I always find it difficult when an actress plays both the part of a child and the grown woman.

Seeing Amy as a mature young woman just didn't work for me - I kept imagining her as a naughty, spoilt child!

Laurie... There is a boyish innocence about him in this adaption. Jonah Hauer-King played the part of mischievous Laurie quite well, but as with Amy, I found it difficult imagining him as an older Laurie.

And I do think he has some way to go when it comes to showing emotion in film. The part when he is refused by Jo felt so dreadfully unnatural!

Aunt March was played by Angela Lansbury. What a joy she was and brought an element of fun to the screen!

I love Michael Gambon (You may recognize him from Emma, Wives and Daughters, Cranford), and he really was a fantastic Mr Laurence!

One
aspect of this mini series I genuinely appreciated, was that there was
more interaction between Father and his family shown. I feel this draws
the viewer in to the story in a very real way - this is a closely knit
family and the bond between father, mother and daughters is plain to
see.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mini series. Even though I am something of a purist when it comes to film adaptions of classic novels like Little Women, I actually liked the fact that this adaption was not completely true to the book. Maybe it is because I have read the book so often...or seen the 1994 movie over and again that I quite appreciated the new twist!

I felt I could connect with each character in a special way.
The soft lighting, the scenes of the countryside and animals as well as the touches of lace throughout gave it real charm and made it feel very real which is ideally what you would like to see in any film!

I was, however, disappointed with the soundtrack of this particular BBC mini series. BBC usually does an incredible job of creating beautiful music for their work... Think of the soundtrack from Emma... Or the opening title in Call The Midwife.
However, Little Women sadly does not qualify. I found the choice of music somewhat random and a bit too modern...

This mini series could have done with another part...things were slightly rushed at the end so as to tie up any loose ends. But then maybe I simply would have liked this series to never end...{{smiles}}

If you decide to watch Little Women, let me know what you think.

Personally,
I would give this mini series 3/5 stars. The acting was a little forced
at times by one or two actors, but overall I thought it a lovely
version of one of my very favourite books.

"Now and then, in this workaday world, things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion, and what a comfort that is."

~ Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

What is next on my list of period dramas to watch?

Goodbye Christopher Robin should be coming out in South Africa very soon... I have been eagerly anticipating this film and was dreadfully upset when it didn't show in theatres here.

Happy Sunday to you, dear readers...

Thank you for your sweet visits - it always brightens my day to have you stop by!

I thoroughly enjoyed it but I agree with you about the musical score. The music seemed out of place for the time period and I noticed that right away. Great review of this wonderful classic! Have a blessed week!

My dear friend, You did a remarkable job on this review! I have yet to watch this minseries, due to all the busyness of moving and packing, but it is on my list of things I am anxious to watch. I so appreciated your thoughts and all the little details you shared...I'm even more excited to watch now to see if I notice the same things.

I share your sentiments on actresses or actors playing both the younger and older character...I've seen that done in several movies or shows and I'm not always the biggest fan of that choice. We, however, are big fans of Angela Lansbury here! My mom loves her in "Murder, She Wrote". {{smiles}}

"Goodbye Christopher Robin" is also one movie that I want to see...along with "The Man Who Invented Christmas". I know it's a Christmas movie, but I didn't get to see it in December and it looks really good...plus the main actor played Matthew in Downton Abbey, which is a favorite show of mine. I'd be very curious to see how he portrayed a different character, as I tend to get used to an actor in one role and then find it weird when they are doing something different. He will always be Matthew to me! {{winks}}

Well done, Kelly-Anne! You have a knack for sharing lovely, detailed, and enjoyable reviews...looking forward to your next one!

Dearest sweet Kelly-Anne,May I first just say how you truly blessed my heart and my day with your note left on my blog- thank you for each loving word!♥ I cannot thank you enough for not only that, but your godly friendship that makes me feel honored to know you even if only through blogging. You are a friend I cherish. I enjoyed reading your words SO much...I think of your often, and it was so neat to see your comment because I was thinking of you especially in the last few days thinking how it had been much too long since I visited your beautiful blog. I have been bad about checking my blogger dashboard and reading the updates there, I am so sorry.I can just imagine the excitement you feel to be visiting your dad in China as you'd shared! Oh what a delight and what amazing and precious memories there with him you must be making. I will be keeping you in my prayers on your time there and for safe travels home when that time comes. Praying also for you in all way and your dear family!

And to comment on this post, oh what a joyous time I have spent reading through and enjoying your sharings & thoughts on the characters and performances. I heard about this, but regret not getting to see it. I definitely wish I could now, it looks wonderful. Oh the fashion itself is wonderful. I enjoyed seeing the scene you shared with Angela Lansbury- so neat to see her still acting, she is one of my favorite actresses of old. So glad you and your mom and sisters enjoyed it overall :)

Many, many hugs and blessings to you!!Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, as well.Love in Christ,Jazzmin

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Wise Words...

"Dear friend, remember it is not hasty reading, but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that will make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee's touching of the flower that draws out the sweet substance. Likewise, it is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian. And be certain that it is not the knowing, nor the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man, that at last will be found the happiest man. If you know these things, blessed and happy are you if you do them." ~ Thomas Brooks

The True Way to Live

"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies." ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Thankulness

"Hem your blessings with thankfulness." ~ Author Unkown

Living Wisely...

"To live wisely is to orient everything about ourselves and our lives around God rather than around ourselves. Wise women are God-centered, not self centered. As we orient ourselves around God, our tastes and interests will change, and we will increasingly love what God loves and hate what he hates:” ~ Lydia Brownback

Simplicity

"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." ~ Thomas Moore

Joys of a Simple Life

To find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest, or over a wildflower in spring- these are some of the rewards of the simple life. ~ John Burroughs

Simple Pleasures

I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but those that bring simple pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string. ~ L.M. Montgomery

The Quiet Life

What sweet delight a quiet life affords. ~ William Drummond

Beauty in Simplicity

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever." ~ John Keats

Home Comforts

"Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort." ~ Jane Austen

Work & Play

"Have regular hours for both work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success." ~ Louisa May Alcott

The True Lady

"To me, a lady is not frilly, flouncy, flippant, frivolous and fluff-brained, but she is gentle. She is gracious, she is godly and she is giving... You and I, if we are women, have the gift of femininity. Very often it is obscured just as the image of God is obscured in all of us... The more womanly we are, the more manly men will be, and the more God is glorified. As I say to you women, 'Be women. Be only women. Be real women in obedience to God." ~ Elisabeth Elliot

The Delights of Sewing

Sewing: A creative mess is better than tidy idleness. ~Author Unknown

Teatime Delights

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea. ~ Unknown

True Charm

There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart. ~ Jane Austen -

The Home

“It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existence, [but] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's the flowers you choose, the music you play, the smile you have waiting. I want it to be gay and cheerful, a haven in this troubled world. I don't want my husband and children to come home and find a rattled woman. Our era is already rattled enough, isn't it?” ~ Audrey Hepburn

The Blessings of Work

"Have regular hours for both work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success." ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

The Blessings of Books

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” ~ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Resting in His Hands

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." ~ Martin Luther